Putter with attached weight



Nov. 30, 1965 J. H. SALEEBY 3,220,733

PUTTER WITH ATTACHED WEIGHT Filed July 11, 1965 4 32 2 0 y INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,220,733 PUTTER WITH ATTACHED WEIGHT James H.Saleehy, 57 North St., Newton Center, Mass. Filed July 11, 1963, Ser.No. 294,355 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-171) The present invention generallyrelates to novel and improved structural details in connection with agolf club having structural features which enable the attachment anddetachment of selected additional weights to vary the weightcharacteristics as well as the weight distribution characteristics ofthe club.

It is Well known that different individuals require golf clubs havingvarious weight characteristics and weight distribution characteristicsdepending upon the individual whims of the golfer as well as thestrength and muscular coordination of the golfer and also differentconditions encountered on various golf courses also require golf clubshaving heads with different weights or weight distributioncharacteristics. This is especially true in connection with putterssince a putter is normally used generally in the manner of a pendulum orwith a very short stroke whereby change in weight characteristics iseffective for providing the desired shape, configuration and weight ofthe putter head in order to enable the putter to effectively drive theball towards the cup. For example, if the green is quite fast due tovery hard surfaces and very short grass, a relatively lightweight puttermay be employed effectively. However, when the surface of the green isslow such as when the surf-ace is soft from recent rain or watering orthe grass is relatively high, a golf putter having heavier weightcharacteristics may be desirable. Of course, the desirability of aparticular weight is also dependent upon the strength characteristics ofthe golfer. However, if the golfer has consistent strokecharacteristics, it would be advantageous to vary the weightcharacteristics of the head when the characteristics of the green varyrather than trying to vary the stroke characteristics.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf putter havingstructural features incorporated therein which enable a Weight to beeasily attached thereto or detached therefrom depending upon the desiresof the golfer and which will securely retain the weight in a stationaryposition on the club head and also distribute the Weight symmetricallyin relation to the center of gravity of the existent club head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachableweight for a golf club head in which the weight is distributedsubstantially throughout the area of one side of the club head and isprovided with rounded contours to eliminate any possible detrimentaleffects from the addition of the weight.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a golfclub head having a detachable weight in which the golf club head andweight have cooperating interlocking structures which enable slidinginterlocking relationship between the weight and the golf club headtogether with spring-biased ball detent mean for securing the weight inposition and also securing the weight so that it does not shake or movein relation to the club head during use of the club head with the weightthereon.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a golf clubhead with attached Weight which is simple in construction, easy to use,effective for its particular purice poses, variable in weight therebyenabling a group of attachable weights to be employed and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a putter incorporating the attachedweight of the present invention therein;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the putterhead and the attached weight in their associated relationship;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating thestructural details of the weight and the golf club head with the balldetent securing mechanism also being illustrated;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 3 illustrating thedovetail sliding interconnection between the attached weight and golfclub head; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view similar to FIG- URE 4 butillustrating a T-shaped configuration of interlocking connection betweenthe weight and club head.

Referring now pecifically to the drawings, the numeral [0 generallydesignates the attached Weight of the present invention and the numeral12 generally designates a golf club and particularly a putter having theusual elongated shank 14, handle or handgrip 16 and club head 18 whichis elongated and generally rectangular in configuration and providedwith the usual flat ball-engaging surface 20. The particularconstruction of the golf club itself insofar as the handle andball-engaging surface 20 is concerned may be varied in that the weight10 of the present invention may be attached to any conventional golfputter or golf club.

The rear face of the club head 18 is smooth as indicated by numeral 22and provided with a longitudinal groove or recess 24 extendingthroughout the length thereof with the groove or recess 24 havinginwardly diverging side walls 26 thus defining a dovetail groove havinga constant cross-sectional area throughout its length with the groove24- being continuous through both ends of the club head 18. The innersurface of the groove 24 is planar as designated by the numeral 28 andis parallel to the ball-engaging face 20 of the club head 18. Disposedcentrally in the planar inner surface or bottom surface 28 of the groove24 is a recess 30 which may be partially spherical in configuration orpartially conical. The orientation of the recess 30 may be varied butpreferably, it may be placed at the longitudinal center of the surface28.

The attached weight 10 incorporates an elongated solid body 32 having alength generally equal to the length of the club head 18 and havinggenerally parallel top and bottom surfaces 34 to align with thegenerally parallel top and bottom surfaces 36 of the club head 18. Theend edges of the body 32 are also generally parallel as indicated bynumeral 38 for alignment with the fiat end edges 40 of the club head 18with this relationship of peripheral surfaces of the weight and clubhead being illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 respectively. The rear face ofthe weight body 32 is generally arcuately curved from end-toend asilustrated in FIGURE 3 and also ar-cuately curved 3 from top to bottomedge thereof as illustrated in FIG- UR'E 4 thereby forming a roundedrear surface for the club head when the weight 10 is attached as ilustrated in FIGURE 1 and also in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The inner surface of the body 32 is provided with a longitudinalprojection 44 which has a planar inner surface 48 for matchingengagement with the planar surface 28 and also the side edges of theprojection 44 converge away from the planar surface 48 as indicated bynumeral 50 for correspondingly engaging the inclined surfaces 26 of thegroove 24 for interlocking engagement therewith. Thus, in order to mountthe weight 10 on the club head 18, it is only necessary to register thedovetail projection 44 with the dovetail groove 24 and slide the weightlongitudinally until the weight body 32 is aligned with the club head18.

For securing the weight body 32 in position, the body 32 is providedwith a centrally disposed bore 52 having a spherical ball detent 54movably mounted therein and spring-biased towards the ifiat innersurface 48 of the projection 44' by a coil compression spring 56 withthere being a closure setscrew 58 screwed into the externally threadedouter end portion of the bore 52 engaging the end of the spring 56opposite from the engagement of the spring 56 with the ball detent 54thereby varying the compression of the spring 56 for varying theeffectiveness of the ball detent 54.

As illustrated, the inner end of the bore 52 is slightly narrowed orreduced in diameter as at 60 for preventing the ball detent 54 fromexiting from the bore 52. However, the spring 56 retains the ball detent54 with a portion of the periphery thereof projecting beyond the surface48 of the projection 44 so that the ball detent 54 will snap into therecess 30 to lockingly engage the body 32 on the club head 18. Also, theball detent 54 and the spring 56 serve to urge the body 32 away from theclub head 18 which will securely urge the inclined surfaces 50 intoengagement with the inclined surfaces 26 whereby a wedging action willoccur therebetween to prevent any lateral shifting or looseness in theweight 32. Thus, by tightening or loosening the screw 58 as necessary,the tension or compression of the spring 56 may be varied to assure thatthe weight 10 will not shift in relation to the club head. Thisstructure will enable the weight 10 to be interlocked on the head 18 bya longitudinal sliding movement in either direction in relation to theclub head 18 and at the same time will prevent any shifting oraccidental disengagement of the weight. Further, the orientation of therecess 30 and the ball detent may vary dependent upon the particularshape and configuration of the weight as well as the particular shapeand configuration of the club head with which the weight is associated.To facilitate movement of ball detent 54 onto the surface 28, a taperedindentation 55 is provided between end wall 40 and surface 28 therebyallowing easier assembly of the weight with the club head. Also, the topsurface of the club head 18 is provided with a groove 37 coincident withthe centerline of the club head for guiding the movement of the head ina desired direction. This groove could also extend across the topsurface of the weight body 32 if desired.

FIGURE illustrates a modified form of the present invention in which theclub head 18 is provided with a T-shaped groove 70 having undercutlongitudinal portions 72 at the inner portion thereof for receiving acorresponding T-shaped projection 74 on the weight body 32. The T-shapedprojection 74 is provided with a pair of projecting flanges 76 whichslidingly interlock with the undercut portions or grooves 72 in theT-shaped groove 70 in the club head 18. The spring detent mechanism forsecuring the weight body 32' in place may be the same as that employedin the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 with the spring detentserving to prevent longitudinal movement of the weight body 32 as wellas preventing any lateral shifting thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a golf club head having a generally rectangularconfiguration, a weight body having a generally similar configurationattached to the rear face of the head, the rear face of said club headincluding a longitudinal groove therein having an undercut portion, saidbody having a longitudinal projection therein having a longitudinalenlargement for interlocking engagement with the undercut portion of thegroove, and means interconnecting the projection and groove for lockingthe body on the head, said means interlocking the projection and thegroove including a bore in said body, a ball detent movable in said boreand projecting from the surface of the projection received in thegroove, a coil spring engaging said ball, the bottom of said groovehaving a recess therein for receiving the ball detent whereby the balldetent will secure the body to the club head by preventing longitudinalmovement of the body in relation to the club head, a threaded adjustablemember engaging the spring in opposed relation to the ball detent forvarying the compression of the spring thereby enabling lateral force tobe exerted on the body by the ball detent pushing against the bottom ofthe recess in the groove thereby positively securing the interlockingprojection and side walls of the groove thereby preventing lateralshifting movement thereof.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said groove is ofdovetailed configuration with the projection on the body being ofcorresponding dovetailed configuration.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said groove is generallyof T-shaped configuration and said projection is correspondingly ofT-shaped configuration for sliding interlocking engagement with thegroove.

4. In combination with a golf club head having an elongatedconfiguration, a weight body having a generally similar configurationattached to the rear face of the golf club head, the rear face of thegolf club head including a longitudinally extending groove communicatingwith the ends of the golf club head and being defined by parallelcontinuous side walls, said side walls having their outer edge portionscloser together than their inner edge portions thereby forming anundercut throughout the length of the groove, said weight body having alongitudinally extending projection thereon corresponding in length tothe groove for longitudinal sliding interlocking engagement with thegroove, said projection having parallel side walls with the outer edgeportions thereof being spaced further apart than the inner edge portionsfor interlocking engagement with the side walls of the groove, andspring urged ball detent means carried by said weight body and normallyprojecting slightly beyond the surface of the projection which isadjacent the bottom of the groove for resilient contact with the bottomof the groove for locking the projection in the groove and biasing theside walls of the projections into close fitting removable contact withthe side walls defining the groove thereby reducing movement of theweight body in relation to the golf club head, one end portion of thegroove being provided wit-h a tapering recess in the bottom thereofforming a guide for engaging the hall detent means when the projectionis moved longitudinally into the groove for facilitating initial inwardmovement of the ball detent means in relation to a weight body when theweight body is assembled on the golf club head, said groove also havinga recess disposed intermediate the ends for receiving the ball detentmeans when the projection is properly oriented in the groove, said balldetent means including a coil compression spring, a ball detent engagingone end of the spring and a screw-threaded member engaging the other endof the spring for varying the compression thereof, said Weight bodyhaving a transverse bore extending between the surface of the projectionwhich engages the bottom of the groove and the outer surface thereof forenabling adjustment of the screwthreaded member thereby varying thecompression of the spring for varying the resilient characteristicsthereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED DELBERT B. LOWE,

STATES PATENTS Maurice 273171 Shidler 273-472 Luckett 273163 Miller273-463 Beardsley 273168 X Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULARCONFIGURATION, A WEIGHT BODY HAVING A GENERALLY SIMILAR CONFIGURATIONATTACHED TO THE REAR FACE OF THE HEAD, THE REAR FACE OF SAID CLUB HEADINCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE THEREIN HAVING AN UNDERCUT PORTION, SAIDBODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL PROJECTION THEREIN HAVING A LONGITUDINALENLARGEMENT FOR INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDERCUT PORTION OF THEGROOVE, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE PROJECTION AND GROOVE FOR LOCKINGTHE BODY ON THE HEAD, SAID MEANS INTERLOCKING THE PROJECTION AND THEGROOVE INCLUDING A BORE IN SAID BODY, A BALL DENT MOVABLE IN SAID BOREAND PROJECTING FROM THE SURFACE OF THE PROJECTION RECEIVED IN THEGROOVE, A COIL SPRING ENGAGING SAID BALL, THE BOTTOM OF SAID GROOVEHAVING A RECESS THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE BALL DETENT WHEREBY THE BALLDETENT WILL SECURE THE BODY TO THE CLUB HEAD BY PREVENTING LONGITUDINALMOVEMENT OF THE BODY IN RELATION TO THE CLUB HEAD, A THREADED ADJUSTABLEMEMBER ENGAGING THE SPRING IN OPPOSED RELATION TO THE BALL DETENT FORVARYING THE COMPRESSION OF THE SPRING THEREBY ENABLING LATERAL FORCE TOBE EXERTED ON HE BODY BY THE BALL DETENT PUSHING AGAINST THE BOTTOM OFTHE RECESS IN THE GROOVE THEREBY POSITIVELY SECURING THE INTERLOCKINGPROJECTION AND SIDE WALLS OF THE GROOVE THEREBY PREVENTING LATERALSHIFTING MOVEMENT THEREOF.